History

ORULISA

SINCE 1986

THE AUTHENTIC TASTE OF LIEBANA’S GRAPE SPIRITS 

When, in 1986, Carmen Gomez found out the risks that the tradition of distilling was facing in her region, she decided to create Orujo de Liebana, S.A., and thus, be able to continue distilling liquor in fixed copper stills, in accordance with the requirements of sanitary regulations and fiscal transparency of the new EU.

In 1987, the first legal grape marc spirit from the Liebana Valley (Cantabria) was presented at FITUR (Most relevant Tourism Fair) and one of the first in Spain, under the brand LOS PICOS.

Since then – and to this date – Orujo de Liébana, S.A. has maintained the tradition in the distillation processes, carefully picking the raw materials one by one, allowing us to obtain a high level of quality in our products, which have achieved wide recognition in the national and international market for the satisfaction and delight of lovers of a good quality pomace.

Today, after a successful generational hand over to her daughter Isabel, the original spirit continues to be the same, offering the authentic and unmistakable flavour of Liebana, starting with the commercial name of LOS PICOS and the more recently created JUSTINA DE LIEBANA.

LIÉBANA

The beautiful valley that hosts our distillery and where we were born

In order to understand well the true character of LOS PICOS spirits first you need to know where we are situated, the small but breathtaking mountainous Liébana Valley. 

.The region of Liébana, an important part of the Picos de Europa Park, is a perfectly defined mountain territory, which is crossed by the river Deva and its two main effluents: the Quivesa and the Buyón. It is a closed territory that from the North can only be accessed by the Desfiladero de La Hermida, a road that runs parallel to the river Deva and between steep walls of limestone rock, almost vertical, some more than 600 meters high and from the South through two mountain passes: Piedras Luengas and San Glorio.

Liébana is characterised by a surprising variety of climates, where the microclimate of the Mediterranean itself alternates with the rigours of alpine meteorology in the higher areas. This climate is ideal for growing vines. In fact, in spite of having a few 25-30 hectares of viticulture today, in the 18th century it occupied a total of 825 hectares of surface area. This crop was gradually abandoned until the arrival of the phylloxera at the beginning finished eliminating it without later replanting as would occur in other areas of Spain. Although viticulture practically disappeared (there are currently around 30 hectares of vineyards in the valley), this was not the case with its tradition of distilling,